Apparatus for taking samples from traveling strip



Jan. 29, 1946. R. BRUNNER 7 2,393,745

APPARATUS FOR TAKING SAMI LES FROM TRAVELING STRIP Filed Sept. 25, 1944 2 Shet s-Sh'eet 1 27 26 40 I 7 ,J@ I 1 I 25 l vimz 52 J5 li ggg rf '32 I L I 14 Nil-HE I I: Q Hi *1 l P I j 5-.

- Patenteci- Jan. 29, 1946' APPARATUS FOR TAKING SAMPLES FROM TRAVELING STRIP Ray Brunner, Economy Township, Beaver County,

Pa., assignor to Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh,'Pa., 'a corporation of Pennaylvania Application September 25, 1944, Serial No. 555,625.

14 Claims. (01. 164-99) This invention relates to sampling apparatus and, in particular, to a device for taking samples from a length of strip while in motion. The invention has particular reference to the rolling of meltal strip but has other useful application as we 1.

In order to produce a high quality cold-rolled intermediate its'ends since reliance upon samples taken from the ends only for determinationof the rolling conditions may result in the improper rolling of a large portion of the length of a coil.

It is undesirable to stop the strip during rolling in order to take samples therefrom, not only because of the loss of time and reduction of output thereby involved but also because a stoppage of the strip results in abre'ak or discontinuity in the temper thereof which requires the scrapping of a portion of the strip.

I have invented a novel sampling apparatus particularly adapted for installation on the exit side of a temper mill, capable of movement from a position at one side of the strip path into a position partly overlying the strip and having means for punching out a disc from thestrip while it is in motion. I also provide means for discharging the sample into a receiver adapted to deliver it quickly to a point at which it may be conveniently examined and tested for various physical characteristics.

In a preferred embodiment, my invention comprises a housing secured to a base mounted for sliding movement toward. and from the strip as it approaches the usual coiling reel. The housing is recessed to accommodate the edge of the strip and is provided with a rotary punch and die which cooperate to remove a sample disc from the strip. I provide means for rotating the punch and die through a-limited angle to eflect the punching operation. I also provide means for moving the housing and its supporting base in and out, as well as means for raising or lowerin the apparatus and simultaneously tilting it to maintain the proper relation between the punch and die and the strip in various angular positions 'of the latter as the size of the coil on the reel of. the invention will be made clear during the following complete description of the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings,

F ure 1' is an end elevation, showing the relation of the invention to apparatu usually associated with a temper mill;

Figure 2 is a side elevation taken from the plane of line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view, with parts omitted;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the plane of line IV-IV of Figure 1, with parts in elevation;

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section through the reciprocable housing taken along the plane of line V-V of Figure 3: and,

Figure 6 is a section through the rotary punch and die, taken along the plane of line VI -VI of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the sampling apparatus of my invention indicated generally at I0 is particularly useful if mounted on the exit side of a temper mill (not shown), conveniently between the billy roll I I thereof and the coiling reel l2. The roll and reel are conventional in temper mills and need not, therefore, be furtherdescribed; The sampling apparatus i0 is conveniently mounted on a portion of the frame of the reel indicatedat l3. D

A vertical guide plate 14 is fixed to the frame l3. A slide plate i5 is gibbed to the plate I for vertical movement and has spaced lugs or ears 16 adapted toreceive a transverse shaft ll. The plate [5 also has a lug l8. A eylinder-and-piston I9 operated by fluid pressurehas its piston rod 20 pivotedto the lug l8. The cylinder is secured to a shelf 2! carried on the plate by brackets 22 and is controlled by the usual four-way valve l9a having connections to a source of fluid pressure and to exhaust, respectively.

A carrier 23 comprises spaced frames 24 and transverse connecting bars 25. The frames have the shape of an irregular quadrilateral and are formed by welding up bars of suitable length. A supporting plate 26 extends between and is secured to the frames 24. A slide plate 21 is gibbed to the plate 26 for movement longitudinally thereof. .The structure comprising the carrier 23 and the supporting plate 26 is pivoted on the shaft H by lugs 28 secured to the frames 24. Spacer sleeves J0 are disposed on the shaft between the lugs 28 and the lugs l8.

The sample-punching means to be later described is mounted on. the slide plate 21; The

vertical adjustment of the slide plate l5 by the of the shafts.

cent theplate 3| has a roller 34 thereon 'project-.

ing into the slot 32. By this means, the supporting plate 2s is tilted to the proper angle as the slide plate l5 ismoved vertically.

A double-acting cylinder 35 having a piston adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure under the control of a four-Way valve 35a. is mounted longitudinally'below the plate 26 on hangers 36.

The hangers are mounted, respectively, on the plate 26 and one of the frames 24. The piston rod of the cylinder indicated at 31 is connected to one end of the plate 21 by a link 38. It is further connected to the plate 21 by an L-shaped link 39 secured to a post 40 mounted on the plate and depending through a slot 4| in the supporting plate 26.

A housing 43 is mounted on the plate 21 at the end thereof adjacent the strip path. The housing comprises side plates 44, each of which has a slot 45 extending thereinto from the end adjacent the strip. The side plates are secured to spaced bottom blocks 46 and 41'having upstanding flanges 48 thereon. A horizontal spacer block 49 is disposed between the side plates. .Bearing blocks 50 and 51 are disposed in verticallyalined pairs and in vertically spaced relation between theside plates 44. The two sets of blocks are provided with bearings 52 and 53 and shafts 54 and 55 are journaled therein.

Meshing gears 56 are secured to the outer ends The shaft 54 is also provided with tending beyond the end of the die opposite that on which the cup is formed. This end has a head 14 secured thereto adapted to engage an actuating block 15 on one of the side Plates 44. A compression spring under the head 14 tends to retract the plunger-12 when the head 14 disengages the block15.

It will be apparent that, whenthe heads 66 and 61 are rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 6, the plunger 12 is withdrawn and the punch 68 cooperates with the die 10 to cut a disc from the strip passing therebetween, as indicated by the chain line designated Sin Figure 6. The heads continue rotating beyond the punching position until they have disengaged the strip.

A funnel v11 secured to the, inner end of the housing 43 below the head 61 is adapted to catch the sample disc removed from the strip when it falls out of the die. The funnel has a gate 18 provided with a counter-weight which normally holds it in closed position. A finger plate 19 secured to the inner frame 24 opens the gate when the housing. 43 is retracted and delivers the sample into the mouth 80 of a pneumatic delivery tube.

The first step in a completecycle of operations is the vertical adjustment of the sampling device as a whole by means of the cylinder l 9 actuating the slide plate l5. The cooperation of the roller with the slot in the guldeplate 3| automatically positions the supporting plate 26 so that a pinion 51 disposed outwardly of the gear 56 thereon. A gear segment 58 is pivoted on a bracket 59 secured to one of the side plates 44.

The segment 58 is provided with a crank arm 66 connected by a link 6| to the plunger 62 of a solenoid 63. The solenoid is mounted on an extension 64 from the bottom block 46 and is con-' trolled by any suitable means suchas a switch 63111 A tube 65 extends downwardly from the extension to accommodate the end of the plunger 62 when attracted toward the solenoid. A restoring spring 63b normally urges the plunger toward the upper limit of its movement as shown in Figure 1. It will be apparent that, on energization of the solenoid, the segment 58 is moved through a certain angle, effecting partial rotation of the shafts 54 and through the pinion 51 and gears 56. The gearing is preferably so designed that the shafts turn through approximately 180 when the solenoid is energized.

The shafts 54 and 55 have die heads 66 and 61 mounted on their inner ends, i. e., the ends opposite those on which the gears 56 are mounted. These heads are roughly oval in shape, as shown in Figure 6, having major and minoraxes. The

head 66 is drilled along its major axis to accom-v modate a punch 68 adapted to be secured therein by a set screw 69. Similarly, the head 61 is drilled along its major axis to receive a die 10 including thereof. The plunger has a reduced end 13 ex the plane through the axes of the shafts '54 and 55 is substantially normal to the portion of the strip between the billy roll and the coil on the reel. The next operation isthe movement of the slide plate 21 and housing 43 toward the path of the strip by'means of the cylinder 35 and its piston. The vertical adjustment of the plate ii, of course, is such as to bring the slots 45 in side plates 44 in line with the strip. As the housing 43 advances, the slots 45 accommodate the adjacent edge of the strip S.

When the housing has been properly positioned, the solenoid 63 is energized. The solenoid and the gearing operating the shafts 54 and 55 are designed to cause the punch 68 and die 12 to reach a peripheral speed substantially equalto that of the stripby the time they engage it. As previously stated, the heads 66 and 61 are rotated through about 186 by the time the plunger 62 reaches the end of its stroke. The coil of the solenoid 63 is maintained energized until the housing 43 has been retracted to normal position. When this has been done, the solenoid 63 is deenergized permitting the restoring spring thereof to return the heads 66 and 61 to the positions in which they are illustrated in Figure 6 by reverse rotation of the shafts 54 and 55. Since this does not occur until the heads have cleared the edge of the stripythere'is no interference with the continued movement of the latter. I

If the sample disc punched from the strip falls out .of the, die,.it is held in the funnel "until the housing is retracted. If it remains in the die, it is positively ejected by the plunger 12 when the head 14 strikes the block 15 as the head 61 returns to its normal position. In either-case.

affecting the characteristics of,the strip in accordance with the results of tests on samples I taken from different points along the length of the strip.

I desired values. This makes it possible. to produce a more uniform product and to insure that it complies with the required specifications. In other words, the invention makes it possible to have a more or less continuous check on the physical characteristics of the strip while the.

rolling is in progress. Since my invention is capable of taking samples from a strip traveling at a substantial speed, I avoid the loss'of production and the break in the physical characteristics of the strip which would result from stopping it for the purpose of sampling.

Although I have illustrated but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the details and arrangement of the elements disclosed may be made without departing from the spiritof-the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: p

1. Apparatus for'taking samples from traveling strip comprising a housing having spaced parallel shafts Journaled therein and overhanging therefrom at one end. cooperating die head mounted slot in one side between said shafts adapted to accommodate the edge of a strip when the housing is moved toward it, cooperating die heads on'said 31181175 adapted on 130173121011 {,0 punch a sample from a strip when the housing is moved toward the strip fl-Om 8; position at one 5106 Of the path 16136015,

a base on which said housing is movable toward and from said patn, and means mounting said base for tilting movement.

'1. Apparatus for taking samples from traveling strip comprising a. housing having sample-punchmg means therein,,'a base on winch said housing is movable toward and from the path 01' the strip, and means mounting said basefor tilting'movement. a

8. Apparatus for taking samples from traveling strip comprising a housing having sample-punching means therein, a base on wmch said housing is movable toward and from the path of the strip; a supporting plate on which said base is pivoted, and means for moving said plate vertically.v

9. Apparatus for taking samples from traveling strip comprising a housing having sample-punching means therein, a base on which said housing is movable toward and from the path of the strip, a supporting plate on which said base is pivoted, means for moving said plate vertically, and means ior causing angular movement of said base on veron the overhanging ends of said shafts for rotation therewith about their axes, and means mounting said housing for movement from a position on one side of the path of said strip to a position in which said heads on rotation of said shafts punch a sample fromthe strip at a, point spaced inwardly of the edge thereof.

is moved toward it, cooperating die heads on said shafts for rotation therewith about their axes adapted on rotation of said shafts to punch a sample from a strip when the housing is moved toward the strip from a position at one side of the path thereof, and means mounting said housing for movement toward and from the strip.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 2 characterized by means for advancing the housing into clamping position and retracting it therefrom.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 2 characterized by means for efl ecting a partial rotation of said shafts.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 2 characterized by'means for effecting a partial rotation of 4 said shafts, means for restoring said heads to normal position. and sample-ejecting means in-one of said heads actuated by reverse movement thereof.

8. Apparatus for taking samples from travelin strip comprising a housing having spaced parallel I shafts iournaled therein, said housing having a meal movement of said plate.

10. Apparatus for taking samples from traveling strip comprising a housing having samplepunching' means therein, a base on which said housing is movable toward and from the path or the strip, a sample-catching funnel mounted on said housing, a gate on said funnel, and means for opening said gate when said housing is in normal position on one sided said path.

11. Apparatus for taking samples from traveling strip comprising a housing having samplepunching means therein, a baseon which said housing is movable toward and from the path of the strip, a supporting plate on which said base is pivoted, means for moving said plate vertically, a fixed cam plate and a follower on said base 00- 1 operating therewith to tilt said base as said supporting plate is moved vertically.

12. Apparatus for taking samples from traveling strip comprising a housing, .die heads mounted thereon for rotation about their own axes in vertically spaced relation so as to he one above and the other below the strip, and means for rotating said heads whereby they punch a sample from the strip while traveling therewith.

13. The apparatus defined by claim 12 characterized by said heads extending laterally from said housing. 1

14. A rotary punch comprising a pair of die heads, mean mounting said heads in spaced relation for rotation about their own axes toand "through a position in which they cooperate to punch a sample on the fly from sheet material traveling therebetween, and means for effecting simultaneous rotation of said heads.

cEnm FicAm 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,595,715. January 1914.6.

RAY BRUNNER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in.the prin tea specification of the above numbered patent re'quiring correction 9.; follows: Page 5, first column, line 55, olaim 5, for "clamping" read -samp11ng-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this corroction' therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent offioe.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of April A. D. 19h6.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) 7 I First Assistant Ca'nmissibner of Patent;. 

